NBA and NBPA reps are slated to meet again today "in a small group with only the top negotiators" and tomorrow "with the full bargaining committees" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/1). There were seven-plus hours of CBA talks over the weekend, after which NBPA outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler said the sides are "still very far apart." NBA Commissioner David Stern said, "We're not near anything. But wherever that is, we're closer than we were before" (L.A. TIMES, 10/2). Cancellation of the "rest of the preseason and a chunk of the regular season could come tomorrow night" (N.Y. POST, 10/3).

CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger writes, "Welcome to the most important 48 hours of David Stern's reign as commissioner." Today and tomorrow's sessions are "the fourth quarter" for Stern, NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter "and their sport" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/3).

Stern admitted that he and Heat G Dwyane Wade "went at it" during Friday's meeting. Stern joked, "I wrestled him to the ground." Stern: "There was a heated exchange and I feel passionately about the system we have and what it should continue to deliver for players and owners and he feels passionately, too" (N.Y. POST, 10/2).

Turner Sports is averaging a 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.1 million viewers for the first five games of the MLB LDS through Saturday across TBS and TNT. Those figures are down from a 2.9 rating and 4.4 million viewers for the first two days of LDS coverage last year on TBS, which featured six games on Wednesday/Thursday. Turner’s audience numbers this year were hurt by the suspension of Tigers-Yankees Game One on Friday night, which featured a CC Sabathia-Justin Verlander pitching matchup. The net also had two games overlapping on Saturday, with TBS’ Yankees-Tigers Game One at 8:30pm ET and TNT’s Rays-Rangers Game Two at 7:00pm (THE DAILY).

Fox today will formally announce White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski as the "active player who will be able to build a video résumé by appearing on the network's World Series coverage." Pierzynski will join host Chris Rose and analyst Eric Karros for on-site pregame and postgame shows. Pierzynski is "supposed to bring an edginess to Fox's coverage in what could turn out to be a public audition for TV work" (USA TODAY, 10/3).

The NFL’s league meeting on Oct. 11 will include a proposal “to expand the number of games played in the U.K.,” and it is possible the single regular-season game played there currently could increase to two, three or four games. There is also going to be a “financial incentive for teams to give up home games.” If a team plays “three consecutive home games in the U.K. – you're the home team – you can get up to $1M dollars additional revenue for each game” (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 10/2).

The Packers and Green Bay police said that they will "look at making staffing adjustments to help fans get into Lambeau Field more quickly," but that they "won't put the security of Packers fans at risk to do so." Long lines at security checkpoints "caused some fans to miss the beginning" of yesterday's Broncos-Packers game, "the first Green Bay home game with heightened security measures in place." Many fans waited 60-75 minutes in line. Police "put the wands away 30-40 minutes before kickoff and resorted to the pat-down-style searches they had used previously" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 10/3).

A crowd of 15,258 attended Sunday's Game One of the Atlanta Dream-Minnesota Lynx WNBA Finals at Target Center, marking the second-largest crowd in Lynx history (THE DAILY). The attendance was the "biggest in a season that has seen the seats steadily fill" (ESPNW.com, 10/3).

WNBA President Laurel Richie, Lynx COO Conrad Smith and several Lynx players today will host a WNBA Fit "Dribble to Stop Diabetes" clinic for 90 boys and girls at Target Center. "Dribble to Stop Diabetes" is a national multimedia campaign developed in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association and Sanofi U.S. (WNBA).

Tickets go on sale at noon ET today for the Oct. 8 charity basketball game featuring several NBA players at Florida Int'l Univ.'s Century Bank Arena. The event is being titled "LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh present the South Florida All-Star Classic." Tickets will be sold "exclusively at the University Credit Union box office at the fieldhouse adjacent to FIU Stadium." Upper-deck tickets are on sale for $50, with lower-bowl seats selling for $100 (MIAMI HERALD, 10/2).

It's time to make your opinion known as the 7th annual SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily Reader Survey is underway. The survey features more than 100 questions across leagues, teams, facilities, sponsorship, media, labor and more.

• Who is the most influential person in sports business?
• The most innovative sports property?
• The most marketable athlete?

The fate of Michael Ovitz at IMG "remained in the balance as Monday arrived, with senior management having conferred with legal counsel over the weekend as to how to remove him from the board." A source said that COO Mike Dolan, who is "in charge as CEO Ted Forstmann battles brain cancer," consulted with legal counsel as to "what measures could be taken to remove Ovitz" (REUTERS, 10/2).

Familia Camarena Tequila today announced terms of a three-year marketing deal with the NFL Jets that includes in-game radio broadcasts, in-stadium product presence and rights to display the Jets' name and logo at retail locations. Familia Camarena debuted its signature drink at MetLife Stadium during the Jets' Sept. 11 season opener (Familia Camarena Tequila).

The U.K.'s British Basketball Association (BBA) has entered into an agreement with Galatioto Sports Partners ahead of the league's targeted launch in '12. GSP will assist in identifying potential investors (BBA).

South Carolina's Under Armour Wounded Warrior football jerseys will be auctioned off beginning today, with funds going to the apparel company's Believe In Heroes campaign. The team was "forced to change" the jerseys ahead of Saturday's game against Auburn "because the officials were having trouble reading the numbers" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/1). 

A crowd of 62,572 attended Sunday's Patriots-Raiders game at O.co Coliseum, marking the Raiders' "largest announced crowd since the 2006 season opener on Monday night," which drew an attendance of 62,578 (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/3).

The NFL runs a full-page ad in USA Today promoting the auction of game-worn pink equipment as part of "A Crucial Catch," the leaguewide initiative to raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer (THE DAILY).

"There's nothing we can do about it now. It's too late to put a roof on" – Yankees manager Joe Girardi, after Friday night's suspension of Game One of the ALDS against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium (Mult., 10/1).

"All of this is money driven, and anyone who says otherwise isn't being honest" – FIU AD Pete Garcia, on college conference realignment (MIAMI HERALD, 10/2).

"My thought process is completely different. Now there's just too much risk. A situation that looks harmless can go bad so quick. I've made a lot of changes" – Penguins LW Matt Cooke, on how he plays differently under the NHL's more stringent rules governing checks to the head (N.Y. TIMES, 10/3).

"It's really sharp. It brings out the retro look and, at the same time it's going to be a huge success" – Senators RW Daniel Alfredsson, on the team's new heritage jerseys (OTTAWA SUN, 10/2).

“I learned how sad the state of the national sports media is when a quarterback getting a haircut dominates the news for two days” – Fox’ Howie Long, on Patriots QB Tom Brady getting a haircut after throwing four interceptions against the Bills (“Fox NFL Sunday,” Fox, 10/2).

MLB.com's Peter Gammons: "Every time I watch a baseball player put his glove in front of his face talking to a teamate I think it would make a great Scope commercial."

NASCAR reporter Dustin Long: "This season is the 57th consecutive year Goodyear has been involved in #NASCAR."

Edelman Digital VP Mitch Germann: "Enjoying working on a deck to share with @edelmansea on managing social media in sports. Plenty of examples -- good and bad -- to work with."

Atlanta Constitution's David O'Brien: "In Moneyball, Billy Beane not only had a Clash concert poster in his office, also had large photo of Joe Strummer w/ Mohawk. Outstanding."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com. 

The '14 Sochi Games' official Twitter feed offers up several of the latest images of Olympic-themed Russian stamps, including this one depicting speed skating. 

“Moneyball” placed second at the box office for the second straight weekend, taking in $12.5M and “lifting its total to $38.5 million after two weekends.” The film is “on track to finish in the same range as Disney’s 2002 baseball hit ‘The Rookie,’ which earned $75.6 million” (EW.com, 10/2).

NBC Sports Group Chair Mark Lazarus, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NBC Sports commentator Eddie Olczyk, Versus Programming President Jon Miller and NHL Senior VP/Player Safety & Hocky Operations Brendan Shanahan will visit the NASDAQ MarketSite in N.Y. to ring the Closing Bell at 3:45-4:00pm ET. 

The Colts will host a "Pink Monday" event in downtown Indianapolis from 11:30am-1:30pm CT as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “the Olympics.”

“Aside from racquet sports, one of the two other Summer Olympic sports in which men may currently compete against women.”

MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “Anybody know anything about baseball here? Here's the deal. While you're in town, there's a place on the Upper West Side called Ed's Chowder House. You ever been up there? It's fantastic. And try the Boston Chowder when you're up there. You're guaranteed to choke. Try that. … But here in New York City, playoffs earlier tonight at Yankee Stadium. And do you love the playoffs? I mean, October and here we go. I mean, you can smell it, can't you? They've been preparing all day at Yankee Stadium. They get there early. I don't know if you know how a baseball stadium operates, but at Yankee Stadium the staff and crew get there early and all day long they've been warming the beer, so it should be just perfect … More good news: The New York Mets are ready for the baseball playoffs. They are taking out their TV trays. … Do we have people who own the Apple products, like the Apple iPhone? They introduced on Tuesday coming out, the iPhone 5. And on Wednesday, iPhone 6 … You're aware of what's going on in California? Having one of those celebrity trials of the century, and its Michael Jackson’s doctor on trial for involuntary manslaughter and being not a good doctor. They caught him re-using rubber gloves. I just hope this thing doesn't turn into a media circus … They say that Michael Jackson routinely would have eight different prescription drugs in his system. Yup, or as Charlie Sheen calls it, ‘Meh, Tuesday.’ … How about that Texas Governor Rick Perry, ladies and gentlemen? You know? He's go-go guy, getting it done. And while he was Governor, I don't know what the record is, but he executed 236 people. … Turns out many of them were guilty” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/30).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Authorities are investigating an envelope filled with a mysterious white powder that was mailed to the ‘Dancing With The Stars’ studio. Did you hear about this? They said fortunately the letter never made it out of the mailroom and into the studio. You know, how's that make the people in the mailroom feel? That's what they said, never got out of the mailroom. Thank God! Only people in the mailroom are in danger, not our B-list celebrities. … A sixth grade student from Springfield, New Jersey, who asked New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for campaign advice wound up losing his election for student council. To make matters worse, he asked President Obama for economic advice. He now owes the school $14 trillion. … The market was down another 240 points today. This is unbelievable. The economy is so bad, the Kansas City Chiefs are now betting against themselves just to get some easy money. … Fidel Castro lashed out at President Obama, calling him ‘stupid when it comes to Cuban-U.S. relations.’ Oh yeah, that’s why 5,000 Cubans volunteered today to swim to America and tell Obama that personally. …Twelve Illinois Tollway employees have been caught stealing more than $25,000 in tolls. They call their scam, ‘Change we can believe in.’ … The world's largest sperm bank announced they would no longer accept donations from redheaded men. Boy, that's tough, isn't it? When a sperm bank says, ‘We just want to be friends.’ No, they don't want donations from redheaded men. They said, ‘Couples do not want red-headed babies.’ Well today, they extended the ban to Red Sox players. They said, ‘The babies choke enough as it is.’ … As you know, today is the start of the baseball playoffs. So as they say in Boston, ‘You ready for some football?’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/30).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Ways Rick Perry Can Revitalize His Campaign” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/30).

10) “Get a cool nickname like Rick ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry.”
9) “Promise no immigration law will ever deport Sofia Vergara.”
8) “Vampire running mate.”
7) “A little mascara would bring out his gorgeous eyes.”
6) “Gain 400 pounds and become the governor of New Jersey.”
5) “Hold a contest where one lucky winner gets to be executed by Perry.”
4) “Party like a rock star, dude.”
3) “Appear on the ‘Late Show’ – everyone knows the road to the White House goes through Dave.”
2) “Have one of them Nancy Grace ‘wardrobe malfunctions.’”
1) “Figure out what the hell happened to the Red Sox.”

“What are equestrian events and/or sailing?”